Cleveland Eats 2018 fest draws foodies, families downtown

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Thousands of folks turned out for the second annual Cleveland Eats, a late-summer food fest on Mall B downtown.

The fest serves as a way to raise awareness for Cuyahoga Community College's Hospitality Management Center. The center trains students needed for restaurant jobs - a boon to an industry that has seen steady growth in recent years in Greater Cleveland.

It wasn't just a few food tents set up to serve simple nibbles. This definitely wasn't about brats and burgers. Patrons munched on cherry-smoked chicken, cheese curds, Buffalo blue hollandaise and barbecue spiced French fries. Smoked pulled pork sandwich, salmon burger, white bean puree. Mac and cheese with three types of cheese including Brie.

On and on the list went, as chefs Brandon Chrostowski (Edwin's), April Thompson (Wild Thymez Personal Chef Service), Douglas Katz (fire food and drink) and many others staffed booths. Chefs also held cooking demos in a makeshift kitchen with a projection screen in a tent near the north side of the grassy park area.

Many of the chefs are part of a culinary council that helps guide the fest.

Bands played throughout the day, and a marketplace offered food and other wares.